Minister calls on youth to tap opportunities in Sikkim’s tourism sector

PRITAM LAMA

GEYZING,: A 20-day training programme on tourist guide and adventure tourism concluded Saturday with a valedictory programme held at Yuksam.

Minister for Commerce & Industries and Tourism & Civil Aviation, Tshering T. Bhutia, graced the concluding programme as the chief guest.

The training programme was organised by the Commerce & Industries Department, Government of Sikkim, in collaboration with Sikkim Peak Tours & Travel, under the Raising and Accelerating MSME Performance (RAMP) Scheme of the Ministry of Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises (MSME), Government of India.

The training was conducted from August 17 to September 5 with the objective of upskilling educated youth and creating opportunities for self-employment as skilled tourist guides, particularly in the field of adventure tourism in Sikkim.

A total of 34 young participants from across the State, including college students undergoing On-the-Job Training (OJT) as part of their vocational education in tourism, along with local youth, participated in the programme. Certificates were presented to the participants upon successful completion of the training.

The concluding programme also featured demonstrations of adventure equipment and rope techniques by the trainees.

Addressing the gathering, Minister Tshering T. Bhutia congratulated the participants on successfully completing the programme and becoming skilled and certified tourist guides. He encouraged young people, particularly educated youth, to explore the growing opportunities in Sikkim’s tourism sector and pursue entrepreneurship. He highlighted the State Government’s initiatives for skill development, entrepreneurship and capacity building, and encouraged educated youth to explore tourism-related enterprises.

The Minister also highlighted the State Government’s ‘One Family, One Entrepreneur’ initiative, conceptualised by Chief Minister Prem Singh Tamang-Golay, aimed at encouraging educated youth towards entrepreneurship and self-employment.

He further spoke about the Sikkim INSPIRES programme and its various skill development and capacity-building initiatives aimed at equipping educated youth with skills and promoting entrepreneurship opportunities across diverse sectors.

He also spoke about the RAMP Scheme being implemented through the Commerce & Industries Department with the support of the Ministry of MSME, Government of India. He assured the participants of continued support and assistance from the State Government in pursuing entrepreneurship and self-employment opportunities.

Earlier, camp director and resource person Laxman Gurung briefed the gathering about the training programme and its various modules.

During the 20-day programme, participants received theoretical and practical hands-on training in various disciplines, including tent pitching, river crossing, first aid, rock climbing, hiking and trekking, waste management, ecotourism and environmental conservation, along with other adventure tourism activities and allied subjects.

As part of the practical component, the participants also undertook a five-day Dzongri Trek inside Khangchendzonga National Park (KNP), where they received hands-on exposure to trekking routes and gained practical experience in guiding and managing trekking activities.

The participants shared their experiences and expressed gratitude to the State Government for providing the capacity-building and skill development opportunity, stating that the training had helped prepare them for the tourism industry as professional tourist guides.

Also present on the occasion were Zilla Adakshya, Gyalshing, DSLimboo, YTDC President Karzang Bhutia, Assistant Director, DoT&CAv, TIC Yuksam, Passang Doma Bhutia, Panchayat President, (Yuksam-Dubdi GPU)  Sunita Limboo, Proprietor, Sikkim Peak Tours & Travel, Madam Gurung, In-charge, RRC Yuksam, Tsheten Tashi Bhutia, members of the Yuksam Tourism Development Committee and local tourism stakeholders.

The programme commenced with a welcome address by proprietor of Sikkim Peak Tours & Travel, Madam Gurung, who also provided an overview of the training programme. The programme concluded with a vote of thanks proposed by Training Instructor Mahabir Rai.